Trailside Galleries is pleased to announce Winter’s Embrace, a two man show featuring painters Michael Godfrey and Robert Moore.  For this event, each artist has produced a body of work inspired by the ethereal, almost spiritual season of winter.   The show will be available to view in the gallery from February 18 to March 2. 

The depiction of winter landscapes is but a recent chapter in the history of Western art, beginning in the 15th century.  Wintery and snowy landscapes are not seen in early European paintings since most of the subjects were religious in nature.   Most of these winter landscapes in art history are plein-air depictions of winter scenes, using the quality of gray winter light to create the special winter atmosphere. Likewise, contemporary artists like Godfrey and Moore paint en plein air to best capture the immediate impression of their subjects.

In Godfrey’s paintings it’s easy to see that he skillfully translates his emotional and spiritual engagement with the landscape onto the canvas.  Inspired by the many moods of light, his goal is to capture and interpret these moods on canvas.  His paintings focus on light filtering through the landscape. In his handling of color and surface, Godfrey softens the edges implying detail rather than actively stating it, concentrating on the experience of the moment.

Moore is known for his masterful use of light to show strong contrasts, such as the graceful forms of a forest interior backlit with brilliant sunlight.  His distinctive combination of brush and palette knife, coupled with his use of heavy surface texture and high key color brings forth a passion and energy to every canvas.  A plein-air purist, he works on location to best capture the immediate impression of each subject.  Of painting winter landscapes, he observes, “Winter puts the wide spectrum of summer and fall hues and intensities to sleep for the year, leaving beautiful grays and neutral colors.”